Dragonia: Dragon Stone (Dragonia Empire Book 3)

by Craig A. Price Jr.

  Her eyes bulged as she looked at the damage around her.

  Trees had been caught aflame, as had several bushes. The winter didn’t usually have fires, and yet, charred trees and bushes were all around her. Somehow, even some of the bushes and trees behind her had caught aflame. She was horrified at what she had done. At least the ice oil had worked in taming the fire.

  Zaviana contemplated what she had done. Her suspicions were correct. Summoning the energy from the wyvern vials took a lot less energy, and it created a lot more power than she could have imaged. She wondered if the people who used wyvern scales could use oil of the same element for power instead of the atmosphere. And if so, how much more effective could they be? How much longer could they last in battle than if they’d been using all their own energy to cast the magic? Zaviana was still unsure about many things, but one thing she knew was she needed to find out.

  They would need smaller glass vials.

  Chapter 6

  Zaviana burst into the hospital room to find Devarius lying on a bed. His face was bruised and a pillow had been secured to him to keep his neck from moving too much. Both of his eyes were swollen with a black ring around them. A cast secured his arm and leg. He turned to look at her.

  “What happened?” Zaviana asked.

  Devarius smiled as she approached. “I had a bit of a disagreement with those who believe they aren’t addicted to the wyvern oil. I believe they are the ones mistaken.”

  Zaviana sat on the edge of the bed. “It is as you feared.”

  Devarius nodded. “The wyvern oil is highly addictive.”

  “What are we going to do?” she asked.

  “We’re going to take it away from the dragomen. I won’t allow them to train with it.”

  “Are you sure that’s the best idea? If we pull it straight from them, as you have with the few … are they all going to go on a rampage like this?”

  Devarius shrugged. “I’m limiting it right now. We’re going to phase it out, but yes, I agree. If it’s this addictive … we need to wean them off of it slowly.”

  “What if we need it?”

  Devarius bit his lip. “Need what?”

  “Devarius … we’re in a war. It may not be a full-scale war yet … but it is coming … and unless we can find another way … we may end up needing the dragomen.”

  Devarius gulped. “I know. But for now.” Devarius ran his hand over his scalp. “People are going to be forbidden from using it.”

  “How are you feeling?” she asked.

  “A little sore, but otherwise, I’m undamaged.” He smiled.

  “Well, I have some good news.”

  Devarius raised his eyebrows. “What?”

  “I’ve been studying the wyvern oil to see if I could use the energy inside of it instead of the elements around me.”

  “And?” Devarius asked.

  “It took a good deal of concentration, but I was able to do it. I can use the wyvern oil to take power from instead of the elements surrounding me. And, there is a lot more energy in a single drop than there is in the atmosphere hundreds of feet around me at any given time.”

  “In a nutshell … that means?”

  “It won’t cost me nearly as much energy to do the same spells. When I have to concentrate on the energy to bring it all to me and create an element, it can take a lot out of me. I’m depending on the elements in the atmosphere around me. If it’s a cold day, it’s hard finding enough heat to collect to create fire, or if we’re in dry climate, it’s hard finding enough moisture in the air to create an ice spell. With the oil … I have everything I need. I need very little from the atmosphere to mix with it to create a spell.”

  Devarius grinned. “That is good news.”

  “And.” Zaviana glanced around to room to make sure they were alone. “I’m not sure if this will work yet, but I plan to experiment with a few of the others. I’m wondering if the people who use the dragon or wyvern scales for specific elements will be able to use the wyvern oil as well to focus on, instead of pulling their element from the atmosphere as well.”

  Devarius scratched his chin. “Which would make all of them a lot more powerful.”

  “Yes.”

  “This could be a turning point in the war.”

  “It could,” Zaviana admitted. “But … I still don’t think it’ll be enough.”

  “It has to be …”

  “There is something else that could help …”

  “What?” Devarius asked.

  “The dragon stone.”

  Devarius shook his head. “No. It’s too dangerous.”

  “It’s dangerous … but it may be what we need—”

  “No. It’s not as easy as walking into the Empire to steal it, I don’t know what Ellisar was think—”

  “Ellisar? What does this have to do with Ellisar?”

  Devarius shook his head. “Nothing.”

  Zaviana glared at him. “What did Ellisar tell you before he died?”

  “He told me to lead the resistance for him.”

  “What else did he tell you?”

  Devarius sighed. “He told me to get the dragon stone. He said with it, we could defeat the empire.”

  Zaviana’s eyes widened. “He told you to get the dragon stone?”

  Devarius nodded.

  “Then what are we still doing here?”

  “Being safe,” Devarius responded. “Traveling into the empire is foolish. They’ll find us, and then this whole thing will be over. There will be dragons everywhere.”

  Zaviana scowled at him. “It won’t be easy, no. But, Devarius, I’ve been there before. I know where the emperor is, I know where his armies are. Devarius, I know where the dragon stone is.”

  Devarius’ eyes widened. His head tilted, and he studied his sister. “You know where it’s at?”

  “Have you not been listening this whole time? It’s because of the dragon stone that I have all these powers. I have touched the dragon stone. Of course I know where it’s at.”

  Devarius shook his head. “You’re not going.”

  “I can show you where it’s at.”

  “I’m not going. It’s a foolish mission.”

  His teeth clenched. Zaviana was crazy to think trying to steal the dragon stone was a good idea. Not for the first time, Devarius wished Ellisar hadn’t perished. Devarius wanted answers. Ellisar was old and wise, and knew so many things. Even though he’d said the words to him, surely he would see the foolishness of heading deep into the empire’s realm. There was no clear way in and no clear way out of the empire’s city.

  “We’ve defeated the empire’s army once. But we won’t do so again if we don’t have help. We need the dragon stone. Otherwise, it could take us years, or longer, to ever defeat them,” Zaviana said.

  “I won’t do it. I won’t risk anyone’s lives. Besides, if anyone is captured, they’ll lead them right back to us,” Devarius said.

  Zaviana stood, storming to the door. “This conversation isn’t over, Devarius.”

  Chapter 7

  Devarius lay on the incline of the mountain, watching the sunset. He was healed for the most part, but he was still a bit bruised. A week had passed since the attack, and Devarius hadn’t yet stopped looking around every corner. The sky gleamed a light blue-purple, making the rest of the surrounding mountains stunning in the light’s silhouette. Aquila appeared in his view. She began walking up the steep mountain to lie at his side.

  Devarius appreciated her form when she approached. He loved how she looked, both inside and out. Her hair fell down to past her shoulders in waves. Normally it was straight, and that was one thing Devarius liked about her. He didn’t know why, but he never much cared for curls. However, her hair was between straight and curled, it had waves. And he found that he liked it very much. He wondered if there was anything she could do that he wouldn’t like. He imagined he would even adore her with curly hair, though, he didn’t want to tell her that, because he sure loved her strai
ght hair.

  “Do you mind if I lie here?” she asked.

  Devarius shrugged. He didn’t want to speak. He knew why she came. And though he was infatuated with her, he didn’t want to talk about it.

  “Do you really think we can defeat the empire?” she asked.

  Devarius shrugged again. It was a hard question, and one he asked himself more and more frequently. “I don’t know. There seems to be little hope.”

  “Your sister has a good idea.” Aquila brushed her hair out of her eyes and behind her shoulder with her left hand.

  Devarius growled. “No. It is not a good idea. It is a foolish idea. We would get ourselves killed if we walk into Dragonia.”

  “It won’t be easy … no, but it is possible.” Aquila stared directly into his eyes. “Devarius … your sister has been there before. She knows the layout of the city. She knows when they patrol, and she knows where. Please, Devarius, at least hear her out.”

  Devarius shook his head. “It’s too dangerous.”

  “Devarius. We lost a lot of wyverns and warriors at our last battle. We’ve learned a few things since then … but we’re still outnumbered. Yes, we’ve found more wyverns, and lots more are hatching every day, though, it will take them a while to be able to have riders. However … it won’t be enough. To defeat the empire … we need to give hope to the people, and I’m not talking about us here. The only way we can do that, is if we can defeat them in Kaeldroga where all the others can see.”

  “We are a long way from accomplishing that,” Devarius said.

  “Perhaps not … if we have the dragon stone.”

  “Why are you so set on the dragon stone?”

  Aquila smiled innocently. “Two reasons. One, it was what Ellisar wanted. He seemed to believe that with the dragon stone, we had a chance to defeat the empire. And the second … Zaviana. Her powers are indescribable. All of us here, even the men and women who can manipulate a single element with a wyvern scale, are in absolute awe of Zaviana’s abilities. And if there’s something as powerful as that out there, and if we can find a way to reach it, and take it for ourselves, we ought to try.”

  Devarius puckered his lips together. “I don’t like it.”

  “And third.”

  “Third?” Devarius asked.

  She moved her hand to touch his cheek. He closed his eyes and let her warmth spread through him. Devarius didn’t know how she could do it, but with a single touch, she was able to take away all of his worries.

  “Third. I trust you. I know that whatever happens, you’ll be able to see it through. Even if things go wrong, you’ll find a way around it. You always have. It is one of the things I’m amazed by with you. Somehow, you always have the answer. It was what got all of us so far. Not just the resistance as a whole, but even us villagers, when we followed you into uncertainty, you brought us through, you brought us to the resistance. And from there, you brought us wyverns, and helped us defeat the empire. Twice”

  Devarius inhaled deeply. “All right. I’ll listen. But I’m not making any promises.”

  Aquila leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

  Chapter 8

  Devarius crackled his knuckles. He sat at the head of the table, with Zaviana, Paedyn, Aquila, Naveen, and Tynaer scattered on his sides.

  “Thank you all for coming. Zaviana has a proposition for all of us to hear … one I don’t fully agree with.”

  “Thank you, brother. What I propose is simple.” Zaviana twirled her fingers in her hair. “All we need to do is sneak onto Dragonia, slip into Melonia, and steal the dragon stone.”

  “All we need to do?” Devarius scoffed.

  Paedyn scratched his chin. “Seems simple enough.”

  “Dragonia. The land of dragons. You think this island is large? The stories I’ve heard of Dragonia is that it’s a massive land, swarming with dragons. The emperor made his home there to train dragons. That’s where his whole army is. It’s insane … and we’ll never get out alive.”

  “Do you know the last place a dragon looks for a fight?” Paedyn asked.

  The room fell silent.

  “Under their own belly,” Paedyn finished.

  Devarius rolled his eyes. “Just because they don’t expect us to be foolish enough to stumble into their territory, doesn’t mean they won’t discover us when we do.”

  “I agree,” Tynaer said. “It’s a risk to go there. Tell me … why is this dragon stone so important?”

  “The dragon stone is how I have so much power. It’s how I’m able to use magic,” Zaviana said.

  “What about the dragon scales?” Tynaer asked. “And we also have wyvern oil as well.”

  Devarius shook his head. “No … we’re putting a stop to wyvern oil.”

  Tynaer raised his eyebrows.

  “I don’t know if you’ve heard … but I was attacked.”

  “I heard a little bit … but I didn’t know it was so serious.”

  “A few men who Devarius took off wyvern oil, beat him to a bloody pulp. It was so bad, I have to stay away from drinking orange juice,” Paedyn said.

  Tynaer rubbed the back of his head. “That’s unfortunate. I really believed it would be something to give us an edge in the war.”

  “We may still have to use it when a large battle comes,” Zaviana said. “But if we can find another way … a way less addictive, we stand a much better chance.”

  “And the dragon stone is the answer?” Tynaer asked.

  “When I was a prisoner in Melonia … the emperor knew I had an extra sense. It seems someone learned about it after my initial capture and escape. That was the reason I was captured again. The emperor wanted me. He tortured me, and tried to learn what I could do with my extra sense. I resisted as best as I could. Next, he forced me to touch the dragon stone. I don’t think he knew at the time I had already accidentally touched it while with Derkas. The emperor has the extra sense like I do, and he wanted to see if I would develop the same powers as he. Well, I did. But I kept that information from him. I continued to play dumb. The last thing I wanted was for him to use me to harm others.”

  Devarius clenched his teeth, his jaw set hard.

  “I don’t know if the dragon stone will be the same for everyone … especially those that don’t have the extra sense … but for those it does work for … for the amount of magic I’m able to use. If we could have an army of magic wielders, of spell casters … it really could turn the tide of the war.”

  Tynaer nodded.

  “Devarius … tell them what Ellisar said,” Zaviana said.

  Devarius took a deep breath. “Before he died, Ellisar told me to get the dragon stone. He said it could be what makes the difference for us. He said it could be the difference between a victory and a defeat.”

  “It’s clear then,” Tynaer said. “We need to get the dragon stone.”

  “How is that clear?” Devarius demanded. “If we seek the dragon stone, we’ll surely be captured, and if we’re captured, then we definitely won’t stand a chance!”

  “I am familiar with Melonia,” Zaviana said. “I was a prisoner there for a long time. I know where the patrols are, and I know where the dragon stone is. I can get to it, and I can bring it back.”

  “Not alone you won’t,” Devarius said. “You’re out of your mind if you think I’d let you go into Melonia by yourself, Zavi.”

  “Let me?” Zaviana got to her feet.

  “Woah, let’s not get physical here. I’m wearing the wrong clothes for a fight,” Paedyn said.

  “I don’t think it would be a good idea for you to go alone,” Aquila finally spoke up.

  Zaviana sat as she turned to look at Aquila. “I won’t.”

  “And who do you expect will go with you? Who do you think will be able to keep you safe?” Devarius demanded.

  “I will,” a voice said from the shadows.

  Devarius turned as a man appeared out of the hallway. He stood six foot tall, with long, black wavy hair to h
is shoulders, and a face full of stubble. Devarius stood, his hand reaching for his dagger.

  “Devarius, no!” Zaviana stood, placing herself between her brother and the new comer.

  “What is he doing here?” Devarius snarled.

  “I invited him,” Zaviana said.

  “He is a traitor,” Devarius snarled.

  “He is here with my protection. You shall not harm him,” Zaviana said.

  “He is the reason Ellisar is dead. He is the reason we lost so many wyvernriders. He is the reason so many of us have died. He is not welcome here,” Devarius spat.

  “Devarius, give him a chance,” Tynaer said.

  “You’re going to side with this traitor?” Devarius demanded.

  “I’m going to hear them out, as should you.”

  Devarius sat back down, but he didn’t sheath his dagger. Instead, he began cleaning his fingernails with its tip as he watched Derkas take a seat at the table next to Zaviana.

  “As most of you know,” Zaviana began, “this is Derkas. He is a mercenary. A long time ago he was tasked with bringing a traitor back to the emperor. That traitor was bringing information to you. And he was bringing you the dragon stone. That was when I accidentally touched it for the first time. I was at Sephreal when he brushed past me, the dragon stone hidden in a satchel. My hand touched it when it slipped out of the satchel, and I began to feel power. At the time, I had been captured by two dragon riders. Well, Derkas found me in the city, and rescued me from the dragon riders. After that, he finished his job. He found the traitor and returned him, along with the dragon stone. His reward—” She turned to Derkas.